Rocky Mountain Fly

I first discovered Wrightway Sports products three years ago while looking into Cicada patterns for an upcoming trip to the Green River . I found some cool pre-cut black foam bodies that were exactly the right size and shape for what I was tying so I bought a few packs at the fly shop and sat down at the vise. Thirty minutes later I was looking at a dozen size 8 Cicadas and was thinking how much time I saved by using the pre-cut bodies. I also noticed how nicely the perfectly-cut bodies made my flies look.

When I returned from my trip to the Green, which was quite successful, I picked up the phone and dialed the number on the foam package to find out more about Wrightway Sports and what other products they carried. Owner Kip Hirrlinger answered the phone and proceeded to talk to me about foam for the next hour. Kip lives for foam.

“I think simplicity is one of the biggest points that I like about foam. I have found that using foam I can make some pretty nice bugs with very little effort. Whether wrapping foam for a comparadun/caddis body or using it for a colorful look on your PMD split back nymph, it will look good and be easy to tie,” he said.

Hook: TMC 2487 #12-18
Thread: 8/0 light cahill
Tail: two or three pheasant tail fibers under three or four wood duck fibers
Abdomen: pheasant tail
Wing: two light yellow CDC feathers under five or six wood duck fibers
Thorax: Hareline pale yellow #8 Haretron dubbing 

During the summer, PMDs play a huge role in a trout’s diet on many streams across the Rocky Mountains. These mayflies can range in color from a pale to bright yellow depending on location, but one thing that doesn’t change is the trout’s appetite for them. PMDs usually hatch at mid-morning, and will continue to emerge anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours depending on weather and stream conditions. Trout like to stack up in the eddies and tailouts of pools to feed on the newly-hatched or still-hatching insects. I like to fish this emerger twelve to fifteen inches behind a Parachute or Cripple PMD with a nine-foot 5x leader so I can cover two stages of the hatch at the same time. I prefer to pick out individual fish versus “flock shooting” into a group of risers. What many anglers don’t realize is that each individual fish within the pod may be keying in on a different stage of the hatch, so blind casting into the group is not a technique the prudent angler practices. This short tie is a great imitation of a PMD emerger that can be fished dry in the surface film or wet with an indicator and weight. Tie up a few PMDmergers and be prepared for the hatch this summer. I don’t think you will be disappointed!

Hook:TMC 200R, #4-10
Thread: brown 8/0
Bead: gold tungsten
Tail: brown Spanflex
Rib: medium gold wire
Flashback: large pearl Flashabou
Abdomen: brown opossum dubbing
Thorax: brown hen hackle
Legs: brown Spanflex 

As the high water of runoff dirties waters all over the West, Giant Stonefly (Pteronarcys californica, more commonly known as the Salmonfly) nymphs begin their migration toward the river banks in preparation for hatching. During this migration the nymphs are often washed downstream, and hungry trout wait anxiously to gobble these giant morsels. The Flashback Brown Stonefly is a good imitation of these nymphs. I like to fish them on a short, heavy leader (for instance a 7.5-foot leader tapered to 2X) tight to the banks, where the trout hold out of the heavy flows. I like to trail a #10 Prince Nymph or Copper John fifteen to twenty inches off the rear of my stonefly nymphs. Brown is only one possible color variation. Others include gray and black.

Hook: TMC 200R, sz 6
Thread: Black 6/0
Bead: 5/32 Black Tungsten
Underbody: .015 Lead Wire
Tail: Black Goose Biots
Rib: Medium Red Ultra Wire
Back: Black Thin Skin
Abdomen: Bronze Brown Lite Brite Dubbing
Flashback: Red Holographic Flashabou
Wingcase: Black Thin Skin
Thorax: Same as abdomen
Legs: 3 sets Black Hen Hackle

For the life of me, I can’t remember when or where I came up with the Electric Stonefly nymph. What I can remember however, is all the fish I have caught on it. It seems to catch fish everywhere. I always keep a few Electric Stones in my box and find myself reaching for one when I am fishing a new river or when the fishing is slow. I like to fish the Electric Stonefly as the first fly in a two fly rig on a 7.5’ 3x leader. I tie them as big as a size 6 and as small as small as a 12. Try tying a few Electric Stoneflies up and see if they don’t work for you.

Hook: TMC 100, size 10-16
Thread: 8/0 Brown
Body: Golden Brown Ice Dub
Wing: Golden Brown Montana Fly Company Widow's Web
Hackle: Brown

My friend Al Hall, who has lived near the Gunnison River for a long time, gave me an Easy Ice Caddis over lunch on the banks of the river. As he handed it to me, Al said, "This has all the characteristics of a guide fly: it's quick and easy to tie, doesn't use many materials, and, most importantly, it catches fish. Take a look." I'm always into guide flies for the reasons Al noted, and the Easy Ice Caddis fits the bill. The Ice Dub body gives the fly a nice glow and the Widow's Web wing is a lot easier to tie in than a hair wing; plus it doesn't hold water so it will continue to float for a long time.